Otero J.C. men's soccer blanks Trinidad State

The 18th-ranked Otero Junior College men's soccer team remained undefeated in games played at Tiger Stadium Wednesday by recording a 2-0 win over Trinidad State Junior College. The Rattlers are 19-0-1 in games played at home.

The 18th-ranked Otero Junior College men's soccer team remained undefeated in games played at Tiger Stadium Wednesday by recording a 2-0 win over Trinidad State Junior College.

The Rattlers are 19-0-1 in games played at home.

"It was a close one and I'm not too happy with the way we played," said OJC coach Michael Bielski. "But we won the game and sent the sophomores out on a good note. So it's a positive."

The game was scoreless for most of the first half, but the Rattlers got on the scoreboard in the 37th minute. Kwame Mensah was fouled in the goalkeepers' box and was given a penalty kick, which we put past TSJC's Miguel Gonzalez-Escobar.

The Trojans had several opportunities to tie the score in the second half. However, Santiago Alejandro put the game away for the Rattlers in the 89th minute with Cruz Cortes getting credited with the assist.

Both of the Rattlers' goalkeepers played against Trinidad State. Ernesto Soto started the game and he had three saves, while Josh Johnson played the second half and had one save.

Otero (11-2-2, 7-1-1 NJCAA Region IX) will play Northeastern Junior College in Sterling on Friday.

"Everybody's out to get us right now," Bielski said. "We have three more games and if we win out, we'll get the top seed. So we're just looking to win these next three games and get the bye in the first round of the playoffs."